Tongs for handling ingots, &amp;c.



No. 7061324. Patented Aug. 5, I902.

J. M. LAFFERTY.- I

TONGS FUR HANDLING INGOTS, 81.0.

(Application filed on. 15, 1901.).

(No Model.)

witnesses:

M Inventor:

itirnn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN M. LAFFERTY, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

TONGS FOR HANDLING INGOTS, 81.0.

$.PECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 706,324, dated August 5, 1902.

Application filed October 15 1901. Serial No. 78,673. (No model.)

To ctZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN M. LAFFERTY, a resident of Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Tongs for Handling Billets, Ingots, &c.; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

My invention relates to tongs, and has special reference to tongs for the handling of hot metal ingots, billets, &c., from the furnace or soaking-pit to the rolls.

The object of my invention is to provide such a form of tongs which will be cheap and simple in its construction and one which can easily and quickly be operated, as well as one which will cheapen the cost in labor ofhandling these ingots, billets, etc.

My invention consists, generally stated, in the novel arrangement, construction, and combination of parts, as hereinafter more specifically set forth and described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

To enable others skilled in the art to man ufacture and use my improved tongs, I will describe the same more fully, referring to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved tongs, showing them in their open position. Fig. 2 is a side or face view of the same, showing the operating-bar in section and the tongs in their closed position around a billet. Fig. 3 is a like view showing the tongs open and the operating-bar dropped down, and Fig. 4 is a top view of the operating-bar and its connecting parts.

Like symbols of reference herein indicate like parts in each of the figures of the drawings.

My improved tongs are illustrated at 1 and are formed of the usual members 2 3, which are pivoted together at 4 by the bolt 5 and are provided with the grasping-jaws 6 at the lower ends of said members 2 3, and the upper portions form reins of handles 7. The handles 7 are each connected at their upper ends 7 by chains 8 8 to a ring 9, and to this ring 9 a hook 10 on the end of a chain 11 is attached, which chain 11 is connected to and operated from any suitable crane. Connected to and between the handles 7 is the lever mechanism 12, which is formed of two straps 13 13, pivoted by the jaws 14 14, formed on their outer ends 15 15, to said handles 7 by the pins or bolts 16 16, and said straps 13 13 are pivoted together at their inner ends 17 17 by the pin or bolt 18, which passes through jaws 19, formed on the inner end 17 of the strap 13, and through the inner end 17 of the strap 13, which fits between said jaws 19. The pivot pin or bolt 18, holding the inner ends 17 17' of the straps 13 13', preferably passes through said straps 13 13 on a central line midway between the handles 7 of said-tongs 1, and such straps 13 13 preferably extend downwardly at an incline from their pivot pins or bolts 16 16 on the handles 7 to the central pivot pin or bolt 18 and are held in this position by means of the stops 20 20 on the handles 7. Jaws 21 are formed onthe one side of the strap 13, between which is pivoted by the pin or bolt 22 the inner end 23 of a lever or bar 23, and on the outer end 23 of which is fixed the cross-bar 24, having the handles 25 25 secured to each end thereof.

The use and operation of my improved tongs are as follows: When the tongs are to be used in connection with a furnace or soaking-pit for heating metal ingots or billets and it is desired to carry the metal from the pit to the tables of the rolls, the crane carrying the tongs 1 moves the tongs over and adjacent to the pit wherein the metal is located, with the operator grasping the handles 25 25 on,the bar 23 and the tongs 1 beingin their open position, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. After this is done the door or cover over the opening in the soaking-pit is moved to one side, and the crane lowers the tongs 1 through the opening in the pit, so that the jaws 6 on the lower end of the tongs 1 extend around the metal to be raised and carried, when the operator holding the handles 25 25 on the bar 23 gives them a twist or turn by raising the handle 25' and lowering the handle 25, so causing the strap 13, attached to the bar 23, to be raised, and. with it the strap 13, to the position shownin Fig. 2, which causes the jaws 6 and handles 7 on the tongs 1 to be drawn inwardly, so that the metal is caught within and between the jaws 6. Thecrane can then raise the tongs 1, and with it the metal caught between the jaws 6 of the tongs, and with the operator still grasping the handles 25 25 on the bar 23, attached to the strap 13, the metal is lifted out of the pit and carried by the tongs and crane over and above the tables for the rolls, where it is lowered by said crane and tongs 1. The operator then twists or turns the handles 25 25 on the bar 23, attached to the strap 13, in the reverse direction from that above described, which acts to lower the straps 13 13 and open the jaws 6 and handles 7 on the tongs 1 to the position shown in Figs. 1 and 3, so that the metal drops from the jaws 6 upon the tables in position for rolling, and the tongs are ready for another operation.

It will be evident that the lever or bar can be connected to either strap and that the jaws on the straps, can be done away with by making a direct connection to the handles and bar, while the straps on the handles of the tongs can be arranged to be worked from above by a hook attached thereto and operated from the crane by the operator therefor. It will also be evident that a chain can be attached to the crane-chain for holding the tongs, which can be provided with a hook thereon for fitting around the lever or bar for operating the straps to hold up said bar and keep the same from dragging when the tongs are not in operation or to hold the bar up in position to be operated by another op erator at the tables to release the metal from the tongs after the tongs have been set and closed around the metal by the operator at the pit.

It will be obvious that while I have described my improved tongs as specially applicable to the handling of metal ingots or billets in soaking-pits, it is equally well adapted for handling metal from other classes of furnaces and forthe handling of other forms and shapes of metal for diflerent purposes.

Various other modifications in the construction, arrangement, and design of the various parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages.

Practical experience has proven that my improved tongs can be conveniently and rapidly operated and will greatly cheapen the cost of handling metals. They canbe operated by any unskilled person and will protect the operator from the heat of the furnace or pit in operating the same, as well as doing away with a number of workmen usually required to operate this class of tongs.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In tongs, the combination with the handles thereof, of straps connected to said handles and to each other, jaws on the side of one of said straps, and means connected to the said jaws to operate the straps in opening and closing the jaws of the tongs.

2. In tongs, the combination with the handles thereof, of straps pivoted to said handles and to each other, jaws on the side of one of said straps, and means connected to the said jaws to operate the straps in opening and closing the jaws of the tongs.

3. In tongs, the combination with the handles thereof, of straps pivoted to said handles and to each other, jaws on the side of one of said straps, stops on said handles to limit the movement of the straps, and means engaging with said jaws to operate the straps in open= ing and closing the jaws on the tongs.

4. In tongs, the combination with the handles thereof, of straps pivoted to said handles and to each other, jaws on the side of one of said straps, and a lever or bar connected to the said jaws to operate the straps in opening and closing the jaws of the tongs.

5. In tongs, the combination with the hamdles thereof, of straps pivoted to said handles and to each other, jaws on the side of one of said straps, and a lever or bar pivoted to the said jaws to operate the straps in opening and closing the jaws of the tongs.

6. In tongs, the combination with the handles thereof, of straps pivoted to said handles and to each other, jaws on the side of one of said straps, a lever or bar pivoted to the said jaws, and handles on said lever or bar for moving the same and the straps to open and close the jaws of the tongs.

In testimony whereof I, the said JOHN M.

LAFFERTY, have hereunto set my hand.

JOHN M. LAFFERTY.

\Vitnesses:

J. N. CooKE, JAMES L. WEHN. 

